Expiration of land and water fund would harm monument

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is due to expire on Sept. 30, 2018. That should concern all of us.

For the past 50 years, the LWCF has been one of the most effective conservation tools available to local municipalities, schools, state parks divisions, and federal agencies. To allow this important fund to expire will not only harm many current projects relying on the LWCF but prevent future projects as well. The LWCF has a strong legacy of conservation that must be protected.

The LWCF offers us a prime example of what is possible when our elected officials work together in earnest to pass legislation that truly serves the public good. The LWCF was created in 1964, with strong bi-partisan support, and that has continued ever since as projects in every Congressional district in our nation have received funds from LWCF.

LWCF is a simple, yet ingenious idea. A portion of offshore oil and gas drilling revenues are used to fund LWCF with the express purpose of conserving lands and water and providing recreational opportunities across the country. These funds are then utilized by communities across the country to help them improve their parks, public facilities, and schools. All of this is done without taxpayers putting in a single dollar.

Every state and nearly every county in the country has been the recipient of LWCF grants. In New Mexico alone, over 1,200 projects have been funded with more than $312 million from the LWCF. State treasures such as the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, Gila National Forest, and Chaco Culture National Historical Park have received LWCF grants.

Our very own Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument has also been the recipient of the LWCF. Lands in or near Achenbach Canyon, Soledad Canyon, and Peña Blanca were all purchased using LWCF. Soledad Canyon Trail continues to be used by many for easy day hikes and provides stunning views within the canyon. Peña Blanca offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities and is a popular spot with the climbing community. Offering some of the best hiking the monument has to offer, Achenbach Canyon has also been the recipient of two separate land purchases through the LWCF.

However, access to public lands continues to be an issue, even in protected national monuments. Despite its status as a LWCF beneficiary, Achenbach continues to be surrounded by privately held land. Efforts to purchase these lands from willing sellers have yet to bear fruit due in no small part to the underfunding of the LWCF.

In addition to the large areas of land protected by LWCF are the much smaller, yet equally important, city and county parks. These parks act as the glue and main hub of many communities across Doña Ana County. This is where communities come together to celebrate birthdays, learn how to ride a bike, or spend time on a playground. A new park or the rehabilitation of an old park can transform a neighborhood and change how people feel about their communities in a positive way.

As we approach the deadline to renew the LWCF, the time for Congress to act is running out. Not only are we calling on U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, as well as Representative Steve Pearce, to permanently reauthorize the LWCF, we also urge them to fully fund it at $900 million per year. (Despite the best efforts of Senators Udall and Heinrich, LWCF has only twice received its fully authorized amount in the 54-year history of the program.)

LWCF has touched the lives of so many in New Mexico. To let such a valuable and effective conservation tool expire would be a great disservice to the people of our state. The LWCF represents a promise to the American people to conserve our public lands and resources. Let’s make sure we keep that promise.